At the Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, 2 April, the MP for Kingston and Surbiton, Ed Davey urged the Prime Minister to protect Thames Water customers from rising water bills.

The Liberal Democrat leader raised his concern about the American private equity firm KKR buying a stake in Thames Water.

Following KKR buying a 25% stake in Northumbrian Water three years ago, customers continue to see rising water bills while sewage continues to be dumped.

Ed Davey MP asked the Prime Minister: "Three years ago the American private equity firm KKR bought a 25% stake in Northumbrian Water.

"Since then, people across the north-east have seen their water bills soar, while in the last year alone Northumbrian Water has dumped nearly one million tonnes of raw sewage into Durham's Whitburn coast conservation area.

"KKR is now poised to buy into Thames Water because Ministers have ruled out a special administration regime.

"Will the Prime Minister guarantee that Thames Water will not be allowed to repeat the same trick of putting up bills and dumping raw sewage at the same time? The Conservatives allowed it; he should not."